Fatherless: A Novel Paperback – October 1, 2013

I was spell-bound by this book. Tears sprang to my eyes as I read - and I hadn't even go to the Chapter 1.This a true dystopian novel.

Initially eager to read the newly released novel, Fatherless, by Dr James Dobson, I started it after purchasing it this past January. However, within the first two or three chapters, I felt the novel moved slowly, bogged down by political jargon and the necessary info to set the stage for the plot. Discouraged, I put it aside. However, last night I couldn't sleep and dug it out of my files on my Kindle and began to read where I'd left off. My initial difficulty with the book seemed to be unfounded as I read last night, as I was quickly swept into the story, reading until midnight. When I got home from church today I picked up the book again and just finished it. It was a fast read. I was shocked to see that it had 448 pages....it seemed much shorter.The story is one which describes the behind the scenes action in Washington DC between politicians and journalists as they attempt to untangle moral and fiscal dilemmas and the frightening conclusions that such problems had led this futuristic America to employ. Frightening language such as "debits" "breeders" and "transitions" make for chilling alternative nomenclature for facts of our lives now that with just a slight shift in perspective can come to mean something else entirely. Human life, when robbed of its significance as a holy gift from God, becomes something to be manipulated, prevented or terminated as is felt to be necessary for the convenience of the "stronger" individuals.The book is an intriguing study on what becomes of a society that has intervened in natural processes and what happens when their machinations have turned to bite them back. Abortion and birth control have eliminated a much needed force in laborers and taxpayers. The society finds itself burdened with the problem of an increasingly disabled elder population and with the lessening of the value of human life, this results in chilling consequences.The story is frightening because it so easily could become a predictor of what lies down the road for us as Americans. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it. I look forward to reading Childless this coming October.

I love the audiobook, I listen to when I was in my car and traveling. I wish the other two books were in that same format

Please let me start by saying I've been a fan of both James Dobson's and Kurt Bruner's non-fiction writings for years. Both have authored insightful and important books promoting the family and it's God-inspired design. With their first foray into fiction, they have created a masterful work that artfully blends the reality of today's headlines with the potentially real fiction of the future.Set in the not-too-distant year of 2042, FATHERLESS portrays an America that is surprisingly familiar in some ways yet fatally flawed in others. The nation's leaders, along with those they supposedly have been elected to 'serve', have found a novel approach to help address the nation's fiscal crisis. Not wishing to give away too much of the story, just let me say you'll never think of the word "transition" in the same way again!It sounds like a cliche' to say I couldn't put it down, but I really couldn't. Once I started reading Friday, the characters, the plot and the action moved so quickly that my plans for the weekend went on hold until I just finished it minutes ago. This book should serve as a wake up call to us all to evaluate the economic, demographic and spiritual trends currently developing in the world around us. And then prayerfully consider the part each of us is called to play in reversing those trends so that once again our families, our nation, and world reflect the God that created them.Eagerly awaiting Book 2 in the series, CHILDLESS.

Fatherless is a work of fiction which offers a glimpse of a possible future America might face in about 30 years. A future in which we are still struggling with national debt. The time has finally arrived when the elderly and disabled outnumber the younger, able-bodied workers. People are delaying marriage, if they marry at all, and even more are either delaying having children or forgoing them altogether. Where does that leave our country? Well, it will be seen as heroic for 'debits', those who drain not only their family's resources but our country's as well, to step up and make the unselfish decision to 'transition' so money can be freed for 'more productive means'. When you couple this scenario with recent true stories about how the U.S. birthrate has dropped to its lowest level since national data has been available, according to statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), for the 12th straight year, it becomes a little too plausible! I don't want to spoil too much of the plot, but this story grabs your attention from the opening words and holds it until the end of the book. Be prepared to have some time available to read as you aren't going to want to put it down once you start reading this well-written book. I highly recommend this book!

A glimpse of where we are heading as humans unless we stand up and take responsibility. Truth is uncomfortable, truth is unpopular but truth sets free. This book has made me think about things we take for granted. Love for God, family and moral values based on God's word. Well written, thought provoking, waking outrage in me. Recommended reading.